Twins Daily College Baseball Notebook: Week 5

[Jamie Cameron]

A new team at number one, a college pitcher who throws 104 mph, and a new prep prospect to add to the Twins mix at number eight. Read about the week that was in college baseball.

What a week in Twins Territory! Carlos Correa is a Twin (still cannot believe it), spring training games are up and running. The 2022 season is imminent. Late last week, Jeremy Nygaard updated his comprehensive draft coverage with new resources and a brand new top eight, make sure you check it out! Here’s some news, updates, and highlights from the week that was in Week 5 of the college baseball season.

Weekly Recap
Another week passes, another team occupies the number one spot in the country. Mississippi ascended to the throne this week, after winning a series at Auburn. The victory game the Rebels wins in their first five series of the season behind a high octane offense that is averaging almost ten runs per game.

Perennial powerhouse Oregon State climbed the rankings to number two, followed by Texas, Virginia, and Vanderbilt to round out the top five. Notre Dame slid all the way to number eleven, after being swept, at home by Louisville (who enter the top 25 this week). Miami also reentered the top 25 at 24, LSU and USC fell from the top 25 after disappointing weeks, respectively.

At the end of the fifth weekend of the season, here is where Baseball America has the top 25 teams.

Moment of the Week
How’s this for a recovery from LSU first baseman Tre Morgan, who caught up with an errant throw to beat a Texas A&M runner looking to take an extra base. 

How’s this for a blast? OSU’s Nolan Mclean (currently the 58th overall prospect heading into the 2022 draft per Baseball America), obliterated this pitch 472 feet to right-center field.

Lastly, I cannot get enough of Tennessee's Ben Joyce. Imagine facing this at-bat in a college game.

Potential #8 Pick Performances
Last week we introduced Kevin Parada and Gavin Cross. This week it’s time to introduce a prep prospect to the top 10 pick mix, IMG Academy’s Elijah Green. 

Green has been a consensus top ten (and usually top-five pick) since folks in the industry began releasing content and rankings for the 2022 draft. Currently ranked at number five on Baseball America’s latest pre-draft rankings, the 18-year-old, 6’3 outfielder is simply an incredible athlete. Green is still trending to being off the board by the time the Twins pick at #8 in July, but his combination of size, power, and speed make him one of the highest upside players in a draft with plenty of impact prep bats. Expect Green to be in the top 5-10 mix come July.

• Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly, 32-73 (.438), 3 HR, 25 RBI, 18 BB, 4 K
• Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech, 29-77 (.377), 4 HR, 21 RBI, 21 BB, 13 K
• Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech, 34-85 (.400), 8 HR, 30 RBI, 13 BB, 8 K
• Jacob Berry, CI, LSU, 29-83 (.382), 8 HR, 22 RBI, 7 BB, 9 K
• Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech, 21-68 (.309), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 8 BB, 5 K
• Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison 22-50 (.440), 4 HR, 22 RBI, 13 BB, 13 K

Who are you most interested in as a potential number eight pick for the Minnesota Twins? Join the discussion in the comments.

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[Dman]

I am interested in the 5 tool players first and then up the middle players with good hit tools.  I doubt any of those fall to the Twins at number 8.  After that I think the Twins will go for a bat first player at number 8.  They could likely choose the best pitcher in the draft unless the Cubs beat them to it.  Still I think the Twins stick to their MO of Bats early pitchers later.  There are a number of solid bats in the first round and they will likely take a bat in the second round as the pitching crop doesn't look as strong this year.  

[RJA]

Thanks for the update, Jamie.  I agree with Dman.  The Twins will pick a bat, although now that they have traded Petty, the chance that they pick Lesko if he is available have gone up some.  Boy, isn't IMG a factory for prospects?  I still love watching Joyce.  What an arm.